Trial proceedings began in September for the first 19 defendants in the 2009 massacre in Maguindanao province, raising hopes that impunity's grip on the Philippines would finally be loosened. But in a special report issued in November, CPJ uncovered efforts to subvert the judicial process, including bribe offers to victims' families, and the use of intimidation and deadly violence against witnesses. CPJ's investigation also revealed deeply flawed forensic work and widespread lack of cooperation among law enforcement officials, both of which could hinder the prosecution.

In his Independence Day speech on February 4, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared that the country "cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments, or by the gun." But the sentence that followed--"Discipline is not revenge"--hinted at the repressive measures his administration would continue to pursue against critical news media.

Armed clashes between anti-government protesters and state security forces resulted in 91 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries, a toll that deepened Thailand's debilitating five-year-old political crisis. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invoked an emergency decree to contain the protests and employed its discretionary powers to sharply curb press freedom, which included far-ranging Internet censorship.

Vietnam targeted online journalists in a clampdown on dissent ahead of a 2011 Communist Party Congress at which top government appointments and policies were to be determined. At least five journalistic bloggers were among dozens of activists arrested on national security-related charges, including "spreading propaganda against the state" and "abusing democratic freedoms." The government maintained some of the world's strictest Internet controls, which included blocks on Facebook and numerous Vietnamese-language websites, including those maintained by the exile-run, pro-democracy Viet Tan and human rights organizations critical of the government. Independent analysts found evidence of official involvement in hacking attacks on critical blogs and websites.

Bangkok, February 14, 2011--The
Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that authorities have detained Ross
Dunkley, editor-in-chief and chief executive officer of the Myanmar Times newspaper, on
immigration-related charges in Burma.

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New York, February
11, 2011--Burma's new government under Prime Minister Thein Sein must put an
end to the former military junta's despicable policy of imprisoning independent
journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The most recent
case to come to light is the 13-year sentencing of Maung Maung Zeya in a trial
held within Insein Prison on February 4. Staff at the Oslo-based Democratic
Voice of Burma (DVB), for which the journalist worked, confirmed the decision
to CPJ. Maung Maung Zeya was convicted for contacting Burmese exiled media and violating
the Electronics Act. The court's sentence came on the same day Thein Sein was
sworn into office.

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Nepal's new Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal should be setting
a new tone. Law and order--and with it, journalists' security--have suffered in
the seven months since Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned and has been filling in as
interim leader. Khanal could be making public commitments to reversing the
atmosphere of impunity that is promoting media attacks. Instead, he is
struggling to form a new government amid challenges to his tenuous hold on
power.

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In the last decade, the growth of print and electronic media
and a new generation of journalists have changed the face of the media in Bangladesh.
But there is a long way to go until there is true press freedom. Politicians,
criminals, and businessman exert undue influence, and the industry itself lacks
the professionalism to withstand it.

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New York, February 7,
2011--Authorities in Karnataka state should drop charges against Tehelka magazine correspondent K.K. Shahina that appear intended to discredit her reporting, the Committee to Protect
Journalists said today. Police visited
her residence in Kerala state twice in January and left notices for her to
appear for questioning, leading her to fear she will be taken into custody, she
told CPJ by e-mail.